JA Manafaru Maldives

We went here for our honeymoon and it was incredible, a perfect place for a honeymoon. We stayed in an over-the-water-villa which was so romantic, from the private infinity pool, the huge bathroom, and comfortable bed. The staff is unreal as they cover every detail and are more caring than any place I've ever been to. We want to give an extra thanks to Martina and Sabaah! The special care and attention given to our honeymoon get away was incredible. It's awesome being on a single resort island with so much to do (snorkeling, spa, boating, fishing, cooking, paddle-boating, scubba, etc). The island feels very intimate, not over crowded at all. Lastly the food, if you're looking for 5 star fine dining with local foods and ingredients this is your spot. You're only problem is going to be to try not to eat so much! We could go on and on about the food, but you need to experience it for yourself. You will not find better food at another resort. Read less

(Apologies in advance for the lengthy review, bare with - it will be worth it!) Honeymoon Review of JA Manafaru - December 2024 Context: My wife and I stayed at JA Manafaru for our honeymoon in early-mid December 2024. We had never been to the Maldives before, and our experience far exceeded all expectations. Summary: From the moment we arrived, our honeymoon at JA Manafaru was nothing short of magical. The breathtaking location, impeccable service, and attention to detail made our stay truly unforgettable. Every aspect of our visit exceeded what we could have imagined—from our luxurious overwater villa to the many personalized touches that made us feel incredibly special. This resort is a true paradise, and we couldn't have asked for a more perfect place to begin our married life together. For the JA Team: We’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to every member of the JA Manafaru team for making our honeymoon so extraordinary. It’s clear that the team goes above and beyond to ensure guests have an unforgettable experience. A special thank you to Sabbah, our amazing host, who didn’t seem to stop working from the moment we arrived to the moment we left. Communicating with us via WhatsApp, he made sure every detail was taken care of—whether it was booking dinner reservations, arranging transport, or checking in with us to ensure we had everything we needed. Sabbah, like the entire JA team, is an exceptional individual who offered us a level of service that money can't buy! We’d also like to give a special mention to Suhaadh, Praveen, Ibbe, and Martina, some of the incredible dining staff who made each meal feel personal and relaxing. Thank you all for your kindness and attention to detail! While we’ll be in touch with the team individually to express our gratitude (as leaving it all on Tripadvisor feels less personal), we feel it’s important to share with potential guests: The team at JA Manafaru made us feel like the only couple on an island full of couples. For JA Travelers / Prospective Travelers: Honeymoon Surprises: One of the most memorable moments of our stay was the incredible surprises arranged by the staff. We had originally booked an outdoor cinema evening for the penultimate night of our stay, but the only afternoon of rain during our entire visit happened to fall on that day. Sabbah was quick to express his apologies, though honestly, I was more than happy to watch Liverpool play instead! The next morning, however, we were surprised with a private island picnic as a gesture of goodwill for the cancelled cinema experience. The picnic itself was extraordinary, and we highly recommend it to anyone visiting JA Manafaru—it’s an experience you’ll never forget! Additionally, on our arrival, we were greeted by Jason, the General Manager, and other staff members following a truly surreal boat trip across to the island. A big thank you to Naseer for the unforgettable memories with the Pilot Whales! The team at JA Manafaru truly made our honeymoon unforgettable, offering us a floating breakfast, an intimate dinner setup, and complimentary drinks. These thoughtful touches went far beyond anything we could have imagined. The Villa: Our overwater villa was nothing short of spectacular. I’ll never forget the beautiful boardwalk leading to it. The villa was spacious, elegantly designed, and perfectly positioned with breathtaking views of the turquoise waters. Waking up to the sound of the waves and stepping directly into the ocean from our private deck was pure bliss. The villa was equipped with every luxury imaginable—from the deep soaking tub to the outdoor shower, the mosquito spray, and the well-stocked fridge with regular replenishments. Every detail was meticulously designed for maximum comfort and relaxation. A huge thank you to the villa cleaning team for their thoroughness, and we especially loved the evening turn-down service! The Resort: The resort itself is a true paradise. Surrounded by crystal-clear waters and lush greenery, JA Manafaru is the perfect escape for anyone seeking peace, privacy, and natural beauty. We spent our days snorkeling in the coral reefs, lounging on pristine beaches, and enjoying the island’s tranquility. The resort is so thoughtfully laid out that it never felt crowded, and we were able to explore every corner with the bikes provided at our villa. A special mention to the incredible team that works tirelessly to maintain the lush gardens and natural beauty of the island! Whether you're seeking adventure or simply want to relax, the resort offers the best of both worlds. Food: The dining options at JA Manafaru were a true highlight. Each restaurant offered a unique experience, and the quality of the food was exceptional. We absolutely loved the fresh seafood at Ocean Grill and White Orchid, and the themed evenings at Kakuni were a great way to enjoy different cuisines. We also enjoyed a delicious meal at Andiamo, an Italian restaurant conveniently located near our villa, with some of the best seafood options we’ve ever had. Whether dining by the beach or on the deck over the sea, the culinary experience at JA Manafaru was top-notch. We fear our culinary standards may have been raised too high to return to the UK! In summary, JA Manafaru offered us a honeymoon experience that exceeded all expectations. From the stunning villa and serene surroundings to the exceptional service and unforgettable surprises, every moment felt like a dream come true. We’re so grateful to the entire JA team for making this chapter of our lives even more special. We truly couldn’t have asked for a better way to begin our married life together, and we’ll cherish these memories forever. If you're considering JA Manafaru for your own getaway, know that you're in for an experience that will leave you speechless and with memories to last a lifetime. Read less

Just arrived back from a week stay at the magnificent JA Manafaru for my wife's 50 th birthday celebration. This is our first time in the Maldives and after months of searching the right resort we chose the JA based on the numerous positive reviews on this forum and the multiple YouTube videos we studied. From the moment we arrived at Male we were greeted by a representative from JA and the Virgin holiday staff who basically took care of everything including our luggage and took us straight past all the ques and escorted us to the nearby sea plane terminal. When we booked with Virgin, they advised it would be a domestic flight followed by a speed boat to the resort. But to our surprise it was a sea plane transfer straight to the resort!! Yes the transfer is a lot longer than other resorts as it is the furthest most north island in the Maldives, but believe me it is well worth that little extra transfer time. In the sea plane terminal we had a very short wait of about 40 to 45 minutes in which time we made good use of the complementary food and beverage in the TMA lounge which was really nice after a long flight. After about a one hour and 15 minute flight we arrived at the JA Manafaru and were greeted by Jason the General Manager of the resort and Aan who was our host for our holiday. We stayed in a over water villa sunset side (room 212) and Aan drove us straight to the villa in order to start our holiday straight away. The rooms are beautifully decorated and the cleanliness is first class. For us everything about this resort oozes first class from the resort itself, the food, the facilities but most importantly it was the staff that make this resort and made our holiday. We have stayed in numerous resorts across the world including Thailand, Malaysia, Mexico to name a few but the JA Manafaru for us is a step above and beyond. The staff are all so friendly and genuinely wish to help and please the resort guests. And this statement applies to ALL the staff. My wife and I would like to give a special thank you to firstly the gentleman in the photo with the beard. Sincere apologies but we are both useless when it comes to names ( I think it is Medhu ) but he had only recently started work at the JA and made us feel so welcome and always smiling and cracking a joke. You really made my wife laugh all holiday so massive thank you. Secondly to Chatura, my friend you are a legend when it comes to cocktails, Chatura made two signature cocktails for my wife which we jokingly named "Naughty Nicky" and was the best cocktail I have ever tasted so massive thank you for that. Thirdly to Martina (I think) the Dutch lady who I believe to be the Food and Beverage Director, what an awesome pleasant lady who put our minds at ease and always came over for a good conversation and to see how our holiday was going, massive thank you to you. Finally our host Aan, where do we start. This lady is like no other host we have ever come across. She has a talent of knowing where we were at anytime and always surprising me without my knowledge of her being there!! She made every part of our holiday stress and trouble free, booking all of our dining itenieary so we didn't even have to lift a finger. Day and night she was available to speak to and Aan literally took care of our whole holiday. She is a legend and a true credit to this resort. I don't usually take the time to do massive long reviews of any description but our brilliant experience has warranted such a long and in depth review. If you have never been to the Maldives and want to experience true luxury this is the place to go. It did take us a long time for us to save the money together to come here but it was 100 percent worth it and we hope to be able to return to the JA Manafaru in the near future. Thank you ALL at the JA Manafaru for making our holiday truly magical and one never to forget!!! Read less